By Jeff Vorva
Correspondent
A deal is a deal.
Longtime Reavis baseball coach Don Erickson has said he would retire after his son, Sam, graduates from high school, so he can watch Sam play in college.
Erickson doesn’t get to many of his son’s high school games because Sam plays at Downers Grove South. Sam is a senior, so this is Erickson’s last season at the helm after 33 years coaching, including 31 as the Rams’ head coach.
He will leave the program with a ton of young talent. Heading into this week’s action, the Rams were 12-3 and boasted a roster that features 17 underclassmen, including a dynamite sophomore class.
“I’m going to miss this team 100%,” Erickson said. “My son is going to graduate and play college, so I want to see him play and I made that deal with my wife years ago.
“The other thing is, there are young coaches out there who can take over. After 31 years it’s time for other guys to sow their oats have that experience.”
Had he not committed to quitting after this season, there would always be a reason to stay. There will always be young player or two whom Erickson would want to see through their high school years.
But he could be walking away from a goldmine. The Rams are young and beat up, and still have posted an impressive record in the first few weeks of the season.
“Yes, this is going to be a team that’s going to be strong,” Erickson said. “We’ve had like three injuries, and we have a sophomore pitcher who hasn’t thrown yet this year. He was the No. 3 starter on the varsity as a freshman last year.
“So, we’re going to be even better next year.”
The current Rams want to send him out with a bang.
According to IHSA records, Erickson’s career record is 535-448-7 and includes regional titles in 2005, 2017 and 2023. His high-water mark was a 30-win season in 1998.
He was inducted into the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2015.